The Cost of Silence
The "Cost of Silence" is a Swiss Campaign about Mental health being still taboo in the workplace.
Subtitles available in Deutsch, French, and English.
Switch using the language switcher top right.
Switch using the language switcher top right.
Every 90 seconds, someone in Switzerland reaches the point of burnout. Each year, mental health-related absences cost the economy CHF 17.3 billion. And while awareness is growing, silence still dominates — especially at the top.
With The Cost of Silence, we invited 11 Swiss CEOs to react candidly to real workplace situations of psychological strain — unfiltered.
Their responses were powerful, human, and deeply revealing. Coverage in NZZ, SRF Eco Talk, Le Temps, Finanz und Wirtschaft amplified the conversation, reaching over 2.5 million people.
What resonated most: one in three managers today is operating in survival mode.
This is no longer just an HR issue. It is a core leadership challenge — one that impacts performance, culture, and Switzerland’s competitiveness for the future.
By sharing these voices, we aim to break the silence and position mental health not as a personal weakness, but as a strategic business priority. Because real performance starts with the right environment.
The Cost of Silence is an initiative by Nathalie Agosti and Claire Garwacki (Outlive AG – Bellevue Executive Search), with the support of Philippe Weibel.
Thanks to the participation of:
Meet the team
-
Founder of Bellevue Executive Search
-
12 years recruiting in CH. Has supported 100 companies in Switzerland, across all industries, sizes and cantons
- Former finance director
- Specialized in the recruitment of CFOs and finance professionals.
- In her day-to-day work, Claire repeatedly observe gender-specific prejudices and clarifies them.
